Before Nina Warken and the expert commission present their reform proposals for the statutory health insurance system, Green health‑policy spokesman Janosch Dahmen argues that the coverage of Bürgergeld (citizens’ income) recipients must no longer be financed through the insurers. “It is correct that such non‑insurance services will have to be balanced with tax revenues in the future” he told “Politico”. To make up the shortfall, Dahmen proposes higher levies on alcohol, tobacco and sugar. “With taxes on alcohol, tobacco and sugar we could generate the additional revenue needed to ensure the affordability of health insurance” he explained.
His goal is to reduce contributions for both insured individuals and businesses. Dahmen rejects cutting coverage for patients, saying “it would be wrong to apply that to patients”. Instead, he points to a need to curb spending: “We mainly have an expenditure problem and not a revenue problem”.